Bradenton woman faces murder charge after causing drug overdose death, deputies say

Manatee County Sheriff’s Office deputies have charged a Bradenton woman with murder in the overdose death of an Ellenton man.

Brianne Zaffina, 33, is in jail on unrelated charges, including battery on a first responder and possession of a controlled substance without a prescription. Zaffina was served a warrant for murder on Wednesday, according to a sheriff’s office news release.

On Jan. 18, deputies responded to an “unknown situation” in the 1000 block of Royal Palm Drive in Ellenton, where paramedics were giving the man medical attention.

The man, 35, whose name was not released to the public, was pronounced dead about 20 minutes later from an apparent overdose, deputies said. An autopsy determined that he died from intoxication with carfentanil, fentanyl and alprazolam, according to the news release.

Zaffina had been with the man at his home the night before his death, according to detectives. Phone calls, text messages and DNA tests revealed that Zaffina had sold him drugs, detectives said.

Zaffina is being held without bond at the Manatee County Jail.

The investigation is ongoing, according to the news release.